Four o’clock is an erect, nearly or quite smooth, branched plant, about 20 to 80 centimeters in height. Leaves are narrowly ovate, 4 to 10 centimeters long. Involucres are crowded, calyxlike, about 1 centimeter long or less, with one flower. Perianth is white, purple, or yellow, 3 to 4 centimeters long, with a cylindrical tube which is slightly enlarged and upward, and with a spreading limb. Fruit is narrowly ovoid, about 8 millimeters long, black and finely ribbed.

– In India and Java bruised leaves used as poultices for boils and abscesses, and the juice used for uterine discharges.

– Juices of leaves used internally for gonorrhea.

– Infusion of leaves used as a diuretic and for dropsy.

– Roots used as mild purgative, emetic and cathartic.

– Leaves are anti-inflammatory. Decoction used for abscesses.

– Leaf juice used for wounds.

– In China, used in traditional medicine in treatment of diabetes.

– In Peru, root decoction used as diuretic.

– In India and Java, bruised leaves used for poulticing boils and abscesses; juice used for uterine discharges.

– In Brazil, Kayapo indians inhale the powdered dried flowers for headaches; the Assurani Indians grate the tuberous seeds and drink it for intestinal parasites. Poultice of leaves and flowers used for eczema, skin infections and itching.

– In south Brazil, leaves used to treat inflammatory and painful diseases; also used as laxative.

– In Mexico, the decoction of entire plant is used vaginal discharge, dysentery, diarrhea, abdominal colic and muscle pains.

– In Thailand, seed powder used for infections.

– In South Africa, used as a purgative.

Other uses

• Colorant:

Edible crimson dye from flowers; used as colorant for cosmetics, cakes and jellies.

• Cosmetics:

Pounded seeds used in Malaya, China and Japan for making cosmetic powder. Powdered root, likewise used for cosmetic preparations, mixed with rice powder and sandalwood. In China, flowers are also used for cosmetic purposes.

Study isolated from the leaves of MJ, a 30 kD protein fraction named MI-30, with the properties of a ribosome-inactivating protein. It produced cytotoxic effect, more toward breast and cervical cancer cells as compared to normal mononuclear cells (12).

Study showed significant antioxidant properties and a potential to serve as free radical inhibitor or scavenger. A methanolic extract showed a wide spectrum of inhibition against Gram+ and Gram- bacterial. (19)

• Natural Indicator in Acid Base Titration:

Study of flower extract showed potential use as an acid base indicator in different types of acid base titrations. (20)

In traditional use, the plant has been found to stop hemorrhages. Study showed a decrease in prothrombin time, decrease in activated partial thromboplastin time, and decrease in bleeding time. Results suggest M. jalapa is effective in blood disorders associated with increased bleeding. (23)

Study yielded four fractions of compounds from the extract roots which include boeravinone B, boeravinone E, and mirabijalone B. Compounds tested indicated important cytotoxic activity against cell lines tested. (27)

• Natural Dye / Flower:

Study suggests Mirabilis jalapa flower, abundantly available, can be exploited as a good source of natural dye for wool and cotton dyeing, from olive green to brown depending on the choice of mordant. (30)

RIPs (ribosome inactivating proteins) have been isolated from plants. An RIP has N-glycosidase activity, which can modify large mRNA and inhibit further translation. MAB (Mirabilis Antiviral Protein), a type I RIP, is a frequently used RIP for medicinal purposes, isolated from roots, leaves, and seeds of M. jalapa. MAP exhibits a wide range of biologic activities viz. antiviral, anticancer and antibacterial. It is highly rigid, thermostable, and maintains antiviral activity at high temperature. (32)